Law enforcement officers face many different dangerous and stressful situations in the line of duty. Some, such as gun violence, are obvious; others dangers (e.g., fatigue) are hidden, but common, and can greatly hinder officer performance. Officer performance is also affected by training and other factors.
NIJ supports work to study and improve officer performance and safety on several fronts. For decades, NIJ has been on the forefront of testing and developing protective equipment for officers, from body armor to roadside visibility aids. NIJ also funds projects to prevent and eliminate officer fatigue and mental health problems.
On this page, find links to articles, awards, events, publications, and multimedia related to officer safety.
Publications
- Alternative Traffic Enforcement: Identifying Areas for Future Research
- Prevalence and Determinants of Safety Equipment Use: Analysis from a National Dataset of Law Enforcement Officers in the US
- Predicting Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Public Safety Officers: Implications of Sleep Disturbance, Emotional Support, and Stigma
Body Armor Saves Lives
NIJ establishes and updates voluntary minimum performance standards for body armor, conducts testing against these standards to ensure that body armor complies with the standards, and sponsors research to improve body armor.
Safety, Health, and Wellness Strategic Research Plan
NIJ has developed the Safety, Health, and Wellness Strategic Research Plan to describe the current and projected efforts of NIJ to promote the safety, health, and wellness of individuals affected by, or employed within, the criminal justice system.